Vietnamese-Style Chicken Salad

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5 from 1 vote

Prep Time5

Cook Time1

Total Time6

Servings:

Calories: 433kcal

Author: Erica Julson

Ingredients

For Marinade:

4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs)
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons lemon zest
5 tablespoons lemon juice
Zest of 1 lime
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
½ tablespoon ground black pepper

For Dressing:

¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 small red chile, deseeded and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fish sauce

For Salad:

12 oz green beans, stems removed
4 oz dried rice noodles (rice sticks)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size (halve the small ones, quarter the large ones)
1 cup julienned daikon radish
1 cup julienned English or Persian cucumber
3 cups thinly sliced savoy or napa cabbage
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 bunch green onion, dark green parts chopped, white parts discarded
1 cup salted roasted peanuts

Instructions

Start by marinating the chicken for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Place the chicken in a large ziplock bag or baking dish. Add the marinade ingredients (cilantro, lemon zest, lemon juice, lime zest, olive oil, salt, and pepper) to the bag or dish and toss to mix and coat the chicken well. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
To make the dressing, whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl (brown sugar, lime juice, red chile, garlic, olive oil, and fish sauce). Set aside for now.
When the chicken is done marinating, put a large heavy skillet on the stove and add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Heat over medium-high flame, take the chicken breasts out of the marinade (it’s okay if there is still marinade stuck to them) and add them to the pan. Cook about 6-8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (check it with an instant-read thermometer). When done cooking, let rest on a plate or cutting board until cooled.
While the chicken is resting, cook the rice noodles. Place them in a large bowl & cover with boiling water. Let rest for about 5 minutes or until tender. Drain well, then place on a cutting board and roughly chop into about 2 inch pieces. Place the chopped noodles in a LARGE serving bowl (this salad makes A LOT of food, so you’ll need a large bowl to toss it in. I had to use an extra large pot) and set aside.
Next, add some water to the bottom of a small saucepan and add a steamer insert. Add the green beans, cover the pot with a lid, heat over medium flame, and steam for a few minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. When done, transfer the beans to a colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Once cooled, move to a cutting board and chop into thirds. Add to the large bowl/pot with the rice noodles.
By now, the chicken should be cool enough to handle. Use your hands to shred into bite sized strips. Add to the bowl/pot with the noodles and green beans. Pour any delicious juices to the bowl/pot as well.
Next, add the rest of the veggies and herbs (cherry tomatoes, daikon, cucumber, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, green onions) and peanuts to the large bowl/pot. Toss to combine. Whisk the dressing again to combine, then pour over the salad. Toss well until everything is coated with dressing and serve!

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